Rev. David Holwick Book of Romans series
First Baptist Church for another interpretation, see other sermon
West Lafayette, Ohio on Romans 7.]
May 7, 1989
Romans 7:14 - 8:16
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I. Just how perfect are Christians, anyway?
A. Letter from group in Iowa - Christians cannot sin. #749
B. However, obvious that they do.
1) Liberals, infidels.
2) Fake conservatives.
3) Real conservatives. Latest - Jack Hyles.
Rev. Jack Hyles of FBC, Hammond, Indiana, pastors one of largest
churches in America, larger than Jerry Falwell's.
Claimed to have 136,000 in Sunday School one Sunday, more people
than live in their city.
Unfortunately, the figures were padded.
So was something else - his payroll.
According to The Biblical Evangelist magazine, Hyles is accused
of keeping a mistress named Jennie Nischik.
She was in adjoining office (with tape ministry) and had hidden door
to his office.
Her husband, Victor, also worked as a associate for Hyles.
She wanted to divorce husband, he (Victor) wouldn't let her so she
forced him to live in basement.
He had no contact with her at all, except on Christmas.
Finally they divorced and Hyles revealed that he had given her large
sums of money and a new car every two years.
Hyles' son David has also fallen sexually.
He was accused of seducing more than a dozen women in his church.
David Hyles was caught when he threw away a suitcase filled with
pictures of him with other woman. A small boy found it.
He has since divorced his wife and married the wife of another man
in the church. #832
4) Are these men really saved?
a) Can a real Christian do these kind of things?
II. Spiritual struggle. [section on the law could be eliminated]
A. Paul was happy once, before he knew what God expected. 7:9
1) God's expectations is expressed in the Law.
2) Sin came to life when he learned the Law.
B. What the law does.
1) Law makes us want to sin. 7:8
a) No smoking sign entices a smoker.
b) But Law does not give us power to overcome sin.
2) Law makes sin utterly sinful. 7:13
a) It shows sin for what it really is.
b) Rich young ruler thought he was OK,
till he saw intent of Law.
C. Is the Law therefore evil? 7:7
1) No, it is good. It expresses God's character. 7:12
2) But the law has no power to change us.
a) The law is good. 7:14
b) We are rotten.
D. Result - Paul wants to obey the law of God, but cannot.
1) Role of conscience.
a) Paul wants to do good. 7:15
b) But he does what is evil instead.
2) Mind tells us we agree with law. 7:16
a) We know in our hearts that adultery is wrong,
though we do it anyway.
b) We do it, but are plagued by guilt.
III. What experience is Paul describing here?
A. As a non-believing Jew.
1) Many expressions are incompatible with being a Christian.
a) Sold in bondage to sin. 7:14
b) Practice evil. 7:19
c) Prisoner, wretched man. 7:23-24
B. As a sinful, disobedient Christian?
1) Person desires to do what is right but lacks power.
2) No mention of Spirit:
a) Living for God through legalism. (dead-end)
C. As a normal Christian. *
1) Expressions incompatible with non-Christian state.
a) He joyfully agrees with God's law. 7:22
b) He wishes to do good. 7:19
c) He serves God with mind. 7:25
2) Paul's life reflects struggle, even as a Christian.
a) Victory did not come in an instant.
D. Anyone can fall. Anyone in this room.
IV. Everyone can identify with his struggle.
A passage from the classic devotional, "The Imitation of Christ" by
Thomas a' Kempis (AD 1400), reflects modern struggles:
"Lord, I confess my sinfulness, and acknowledge my weakness.
Often it is but a small matter that defeats and troubles me.
I resolve to act boldly, but when I am assailed even by a small
temptation, I am in sore straits.
From a trifling thing sometimes arises a strong temptation;
and when I am secure, I am almost overwhelmed by a mere breath.
I am weary of living constantly at conflict.
My weakness is apparent to me, for evil fancies rush in on me more
readily than they depart." #533
V. Nature of the struggle.
A. Sin takes on a life of its own. 7:17,20 (repeated twice)
Rev. Walker Railey was until recently one of the most powerful
preachers in Dallas, Texas.
His salary was $100,000 a year and he was provided with all
the trimmings, including a new car.
Railey's Methodist church had 5,300 members, a $2 million budget
and a staff of 65.
He was 33, the same as me.
Railey was a fantastic preacher and was not afraid to tackle
difficult issues like racism and social justice.
He began getting threatening notes.
In March 1987 an intruder came up to his wife Peggy and
strangled her outside their home.
She did not die, but went into a deep coma where she remains
to this day.
The doctors say she is little more than a vegetable.
The police did a thorough investigation and came up with some
disturbing evidence.
They found that the threatening letters were written by
Rev. Railey himself on a church typewriter.
The message he left on their home answering machine made it
sound like he was in another city at the time, but it was
faked.
And for the last year he had been having an affair with a
psychologist.
When they confronted him with the evidence, he denied it.
But Walker Railey had inner compulsions that no one understood.
The next day he locked himself in his room and took an overdose
of drugs.
He left a note which read:
"There is a demon inside my soul.
For almost 40 years God has been struggling with my demons.
My demon has finally gotten the upper hand.
I am the baddest of the bad. I am the lowest of the low."
He did not die from the overdose, and there has not been enough
evidence to convict him.
Whether he is guilty or not, Walker Railey knows that sin is
not a silly, petty thing.
It is a monster that strives to master the soul.
#840
1) Dangerous to push this too far (Devil made me do it!) but
contains truth.
2) Sin is powerful!
B. Wretched man! 7:24
1) Possible to feel worse as a Christian.
2) Guilt is more evident.
C. Victory in Jesus! 7:25
1) Jesus can deliver us.
a) Yet followed by difficult verse:
1> Follow God in mind, sin with flesh. 7:25 b
b) Reason - spiritual struggle is constant. Tension.
2) Is consistent victory possible?
VI. Victory through Spirit.
A. Victory is possible in the Christian life. 8:2
1) Defeat is possible, but victory should be normal.
2) Reason: The Spirit is stronger than sin.
a) Jesus defeated sin on the cross.
B. No condemnation for those "in Christ." 8:1
1) Condemnation = penal sentence.
a) "In Christ" means they are saved.
2) Truly saved, have Spirit. 8:9
a) Passage is not describing just spiritual believers,
but all believers (potential).
C. Condition: Walk in the Spirit.
1) Mortify (kill) deeds of body. 8:13
a) Hyles - evades sin. Claims it's forgiven, forgotten.
#834
b) Jim Gross, local Christian.
Jim Gross used to be a long-haired hippie.
He was a drug dealer in Akron.
Then he became saved.
Jim dropped alcohol immediately, and promiscuity.
Marijuana was harder.
Went to read Bible in woods and smoke a joint; made him feel
close to God.
Put down Bible to smoke, was feeling very mellow.
Had half his joint left.
Didn't want to read Bible then, but felt convicted.
Opened to Ephesians 5:18 - "Do not get drunk on wine, ... but
be filled with the Spirit."
Convinced him to stop smoking dope.
However, he did not get rid of last half of joint but stashed it
in his garage.
Later he smoked it but felt very guilty.
Cigarettes also took him a long time to give up.
He and wife spent $1,400 a year on cigarettes; he smoked
two packs a day.
He quit, then started, quit, started.
Stored them on top of air duct in garage and was tempted by them.
Decided he must rid his house of them completely if he would
have victory.
He found out to really be a Christian you must give all of
yourself to Jesus. #799
2) Set mind on Spirit. 8:5
a) What this means.
1> Not impulsive.
2> Habitual experience. What would Jesus want me to do?
b) Deliberate attitude.
1> Possible to live for the self.
2> Contrast explained between living for flesh
and living for Spirit.
D. The place of the Law.
1) God's commands become God's enablings. 8:4
VII. Benefits of living by Spirit.
A. Experience life and peace. 8:6
B. Future resurrection. 8:11
C. Know you are a child of God. 8:14-15
VIII. Examples of those who have lived by Spirit. (...)
*************************** NOTES ******************************
I. True Nature of the Law 7:7-25
A. The OT Law originally promised life. Deut 4:1
1) Since all are sinners, something went wrong. Gal 3:21
2) Transgressors of the Law cannot live eternally. Jam 2:10
a) One sin breaks Law.
3) Jesus bore the curse of the Law on the cross. Gal 3:13
B. Is the Law a bad thing?
1) Two dangers:
a) Legalism.
b) Moral indifference.
2) Sinful nature is weakness of the Law.
C. The Law incites to sin.
1) Paul emphasizes "coveting."
a) Deals with inward attitude rather than outward action. B
b) Coveting (lust), commandment, life, death and deception are
suggestive of Adam's fall in Gen 3. J
2) Sin attacks us (military terminology).
a) Occasion = base for military operations.
b) John Bunyan describes law as sweeping dust (sin) in a
small room.
3) The experience of a Jew (bar mitzvah). 7:9 J,B
D. The Law reveals sin. 7:7,13
1) Sin as sin. Law shows how sinful our actions are. B
II. Identity Paul describes.
A. General reference to mankind.
1) Less likely.
2) But Paul's autobiography is representative of all humanity.
B. Paul, the non-Christian Pharisee. Wesley,Origen
1) Many expressions are incompatible with Christian state.
a) Sold in bondage to sin. 7:14
b) Practice evil. 7:19
c) Prisoner, wretched man. 7:23-24
C. Paul, the carnal Christian.
1) Person desires to do what is right but lacks power.
2) No mention of Spirit:
a) Living for God through legalism. (dead-end)
D. Paul, as non-Christian and carnal Christian. Hunter(Black)
E. Paul, as non-Christian and normal Christian. Briscoe
F. Paul, the normal Christian. Bruce, Johnson, Murray
1) Expressions incompatible with non-Christian state.
a) He joyfully agrees with God's law. 7:22
b) Serving God with mind. 7:25
c) He wishes to do good. 7:19
2) Paul's life reflects struggle. B
a) Victory did not come in an instant.
3) But it stultifies his whole argument if while he writes he is a
"wretched man." Dodd,Black
III. Relation of Rom 7 to Rom 8.
A. Logical sequence from Rom 7 to Rom 8.
B. Chapters are simultaneous and not chronological. Johnson
1) In Rom 7 the continual presence of sinful nature in
redeemed people is in view. Johnson
2) In Rom 8 the victory possible through the Spirit is
in view. Johnson
IV. Sequence within Rom 7.
A. Differences within chapter.
1) Conflict in 7:15-25 does not occur in 7:7-13.
2) Past tense used in 7:7-13, but present in 7:15-25.
B. Relationship between two sections.
1) Paul's past as a Pharisee described in 7:7-13. J
2) Paul's present as a Christian described in 7:15-25. J
a) Cf. Spiritual conflict of believers in Gal 5:17.
b) Cf. 7:5 - Pharisee experience brings death, not
conflict. J
C. Argument in chapter 7.
1) The law is good.
2) Due to sinfulness it is powerless.
3) No indication of hope until mention of resurrection in 7:25.
V. Interpretive points in 7:14-25.
A. 7:14. Of flesh - fleshy, hence weak, sinful, transitory.
B. 7:14. Sold into bondage - captivity produced by sin working through law.
C. 7:14. I do not understand - Paul is perplexed by way law works
on his sinful nature.
1) NEB - "I do not even acknowledge my own actions as mine."
D. 7:17. Contrast between "I" and "indwelling sin" should not be
basis for psychological theory. Popular terms.
1) As soon as our will agrees to it, we do it. (Can't blame sin.) B
2) "A true saint may say it in a moment of passion, but a sinner had
better not make it a principle." Denney(Black).
E. 7:18. Supply "but the [power] to perform the good is not."
F. 7:21-23. Variety of references to Law:
1) Law of God, law of my mind - Mosaic law.
2) "This law" (21) and law of sin - counterfeit law.
a) Agreeing with the law does not save a person. B
G. 7:23. Prisoner - sin wins victory and makes a prisoner.
Military terminology.
H. 7:24. Wretched man - very strong term of misery and distress.
1) Applies to Christians, not people on verge of believing. B
I. 7:24. Body of death.
1) Identity of "body."
a) Human body which due to sin and the law is condemned to death. J
1> Etruscan king Mezentius tied his living captives to
decomposing corpses. B
b) Goes beyond physical body to include fallen human nature. B
2) Nature of inner struggle.
a) Paul's misery is not due to a divided self. J,Black
1> He wants to inwardly serve God totally. (7:15,19,21,22,25)
2> Sin is seen as an outside force, not a psychological one. Black
A> Forces of evil. Eph 6 Black
b) Paul's misery is due to a frustrated condition.
1> His desire to do good is frustrated by his actual
performance.
2> He cries out for release.
J. 7:25a. Through Jesus - ... release is found.
1) Unusual for this expression of triumph to appear here. B
2) Same expression used of our resurrection in 1 Cor 15:57.
a) Ultimate release comes at resurrection of body. Rom 8:23
3) Holy Spirit enables us to partially rise above frustration. Rom 8
K. 7:25b. Slave to law of God ... slave to sin.
1) Out of place if 7:13-25 is chronological. Moffat,Dodd(B),Black(possible)
a) 7:25a is logical climax.
2) Summary of previous description of spiritual struggle. B
3) Paul's present (and on-going) experience seems to be described.
a) Even as a Christian he does not escape frustration.
L. 7:25b. I myself.
1) Emphatic construction. B
2) With God, we are not left to ourselves. B
VI. Romans 8. Freedom from death.
A. Overview
1) Contemporaneous and complementary to Rom 7.
2) Focuses on the Spirit.
a) The Spirit is for believers ("no condemnation").
b) He enables them to:
1> Fulfill the moral law. 8:4
2> Rise above principle of sin and death. 8:2
3> Enjoy life and peace. 8:6
3) Chapter is one of the high points of Romans, and the NT.
a) Begins and ends with "in Christ Jesus."
b) Begins with "no condemnation," ends with "no separation."
4) Two main themes:
a) 8:1-13. Release from captivity of sin and death.
b) 8:14-39. Release from captivity of decay.
B. Release from captivity of sin and death.
1) Earlier arguments are summarized. 8:2-4
a) Now therefore no condemnation. 8:1
1> Goes back to 7:6.
2> Refers to justification and release from sin's dominion. J
A> Not so much justification as release from sin's dominion,
the punishment that follows sentencing. B
b) Reason: A new principle (law) has invaded us - the Spirit.
1> Freely given by God.
2> Available because of death of Son.
c) Jesus in likeness of flesh of sin.
1> Jesus not sinful. 2 Cor 5:21, 1 Pet 2:22
2> Does not mean he only appeared to be human.
A> This would be Docetism. B
B> Paul chooses his words carefully. B
3> Jesus was real human flesh, came to deal with our sin.
A> For sin - as a sin offering. B
d) Jesus' purpose was to condemn sin.
1> The Law failed in this.
A> It could not overcome our practice of sin.
B> It gave us no power to perform God's will.
2> Through Jesus, God does what law wanted to do, but couldn't.
A> God created a new humanity.
B> Jesus broke the bondage that sin held over humans.
2) Living in the Spirit.
a) Requirements of the law fulfilled in us.
1> Fulfills OT prophecies of the New Covenant. B
A> Jer 31:31ff.
B> Ezek 36:26f.
2> Holy Spirit allows all the laws to be fulfilled?
A> No. J
B> The law demands obedience, motivated by love.
3> The gospel meets this demand.
A> Paul's focus is not on law-keeping.
b) The Spirit comes as a gift.
1> By it the love of God is poured in our hearts.
c) The Spirit comes when we become Christians.
1> Justification and sanctification cannot be separated.
d) Not sporadic, but habitual experience of believers. B
3) What the Spirit does.
a) It produces a mind-set. 8:5-8
1> States of existence, and behavior, both in view.
2> Focusing on the flesh (non-Christian existence) is contrasted.
b) It produces results. 8:6
1> Life.
2> Peace.
c) Foundation.
1> Loving obedience to God.
2> Opposite - focusing on self.
d) Christians compared with non-Christians.
1> To be "in the Spirit" is to be a Christian. 8:9
2> Spirit in 8:10.
A> Refers to human spirit. (Most commentators),NIV
B> Refers to Holy Spirit. J,B
1: Holy Spirit is subject of whole section.
2: It is immediately connected in 8:11 with life.
4) Effects of indwelling Spirit.
a) Modified dualism.
1> Physical body is condemned to die.
2> The Spirit enables us to live. 8:13
A> We are totally dead, yet totally alive.
B> Do not expect perfection or complete pessimism.
b) Guarantee of resurrection. 8:11
1> The human body was not made for death, but life.
2> Physical, not just spiritual, resurrection in view.
5) Life in the Spirit. 8:10
a) Exhorted to do so - rebellion is possible. 8:12-14
1> Sin must be fought.
2> It must be fought continually. 8:13
b) Christians are obligated to live according to the Spirit. 8:13
1> Specifics are not mentioned.
2> Probably along lines of Col 3:5, Gal 5:19-21, Eph 4:22-5:14.
c) The process is a renewal, not destruction only.
1> Room is made for the "fruit of the Spirit."
d) The Spirit leads us. 8:14
1> Transitional statement.
2> Focus is on what we should be (character).
A> Not so much on what we should do (vocation).
3> "Leading" may mean Spirit gives us new desires.
e) Sonship.
1> Relationship with God.
A> Christians receive the same Spirit that descended on
Jesus at his baptism. B
B> We use the same address that Jesus did when praying
to God. B
2> New stage of maturity.
3> Inheritance in view, described in rest of chapter.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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